Cubs, an all encompassing trip

7/7: Around the Cubs Minor League System

Another day and another nice day for the AZL Cubs beating AZL Giants 11-1. Timothy Saunders was at again going 3-for-4 with a home run, double, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Rafael Lopez also had three hits including a double and a triple. He also drove in two runs and scored two as well. Jacob Rogers drove in two runs as well and added two doubles. Dan Vogelbach only was 1-for-5, but he also drove in two. Daniel Lockhart had two hits and scored two runs. All in all the Cubs pounded out 13 hits, eight of which were extra base hits. The pitching was just as impressive as the hitting allowing only one run on two hits. Hunter Ackerman started and pitched three innings not allowing a hit and striking out four. Loiger Padron struck out three in two scoreless innings to record his first win. Jin-Young Kim closed the game out also throwing two scoreless innings.

Behind Tayler Scott and Hayden Simpson Boise shut out Yakima winning 4-0. Scott got the start and pitched six beautiful innings allowing only three hits and striking out four in route to his first win of the season. Hayden Simpson allowed baserunners giving up three hits and walking two in three innings. He also struck out three and recorded his first save of the season. Boise also had a few nice nights at the plate. Jeimer Candelario was 3-for-5 with a double, a runs scored, and an RBI. Gioskar Amaya, Stephen Bruno, and Wilson Contreras all had two hits including a double and a runs scored. Contreras also added two RBIs on the evening. Xavier Batista had a double and drove in the other Cubs run.

Peoria scored three in the eighth to take a 5-2 lead. Cedar Rapids got one in the ninth, but that was all as Peoria won 5-3. Top prospect Javier Baez had a great night at the plate going 3-for-4 with a solo home run. Dustin Geiger did it again hitting his eighth home run of the season. The big blow, however came off the bat of Yasiel Balaguert who connected on three-run homer in the eighth which proved to be the game winner. The pitching did a nice job with starter Jose Rosario giving up two runs on four hits in 5.2 innings. Hunter Cervenka entered the game and shut down Cedar Rapids pitching two perfect innings of relief and striking out three. His ERA now stands at 1.46. Yao-Lin Wang gave up a run, but was able to close out the game recording his 11th save of the season.

Daytona scored two in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough losing to Lakeland 6-5. Offensively Arismendy Alcantara hit a solo home run in the third, his seventh of the year. Cubs also got RBIs from Matt Cerda and John Andreoli. Taylor Davis also connected on his first home run of the year, a two-run shot in the top of the ninth. Rubi Silva scored a run and was the only Cub to record two hits on the night. Starter PJ Francescon took the loss allowing five runs, four earned on nine hits in five innings. Eduardo Figueroa threw a scoreless 1.1 innings and Jeffrey Lorick gave up a run in his 1.2 innings pitched.

Chattanooga scored three in the top of the ninth to beat Tennessee 6-3. At the plate the Smokies had some nice performances. Juan Apodaca was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Logan Watkins was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Junior Lake and Michael Burgess each had two hits on Saturday as well. Elliot Soto drove in the other Smokies run. Dae-Eun Rhee got the start and pitched six solid innings allowing only two runs and striking out four. He was in line for the win, but Kevin Rhoderick gave up a run in his two innings of work. Casey Harman took the loss giving up three runs in the ninth. It was a rough one to lose as Tennessee had the lead late, but gave up four in the last three innings.

Iowa scored two in the eighth and held on to beat Omaha 5-4. Alfredo Amezaga had a really nice night going 3-for-5 with two double, two runs scored, and an RBI. Dave Sappelt continues to stay hot adding two hits and driving in a pair. Josh Vitters added an RBI and hit his 24th double of the season. In his first game with Iowa James Adduci was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Esmailin Caridad got the start and gave up one run, none earned in three innings. Ryan Rowland-Smith pitched four solid innings in relief only giving up one run and striking out three. Jeff Beliveau blew a save opportunity giving up a run in the eighth, but he ended up getting his third win of the season. Brett Jackson missed his third game in a row on Saturday.

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